Back in 1994, the world was lucky enough to capture one of the greatest fireworks shows in our solar system. Co-discovered by Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy, a comet that had been torn apart by Jupiter’s gravity hurled into the gas giant. Astronomers around the world had advance notice of the collision and hundreds of telescopes turned toward Jupiter to become a witness to raw power.

Late last week, it happened again (see infrared pic above). However, we did not have advance notice. Amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley of Australia was admiring Jupiter when a dark spot suddenly appeared. After posting info about the spot on a message forum, scientists in charge of the large telescopes around world also began gathering data. The result, something huge had indeed crashed into the largest planet in our solar system.

Here is the picture that Mr. Wesley captured as he was notifying the world of Jupiter’s new blemish.

The impact is the dark spot at the top of the image

All I have to say is that we need to get our stuff together here on the blue marble. This could have been us. 😦 Support NEO detection! Support space exploration! Go NASA!

NASA continues to deliver good science and great decisions! After extensive review of competing proposals, the selection committee decided that the next Outer Planets mission would focus on the potentially life-bearing moon, Europa. I was happy that they chose Europa as the Great Cassini has (and continues) to deliver tons of data on Titan. Let’s show some love for some other planets!

The new orbiter is expected to launch in 2020 (perfect timing with our expected return to the Moon, if all goes well with the Constellation program). It will arrive in 2025 and study both Jupiter and Europa over a period of 4 years. Other highlights would include flybys of Io, Ganymede, and Callisto.

This will be the second extensive exploration of the Jovian system since Galileo ended its eight year mission by plunging into Jupiter’s atmosphere in 2003. The Juno mission (which is being run out of my new hometown’s Marshall Space Flight Center) will launch in two years with a goal of studying our resident gas giant in detail.